Closing machine



June 20, 1944. PETERSON 2,351,633

CLOSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1942 2 74 [MW 1 W 2 55K 7 ZZZ a 5 3 I vql/ 47 47 I A? z/ \7 I Z;

I, 1 BYJMM 00, 4% WM A 7" TOPNEYJ Patented June 20, 1944 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSING MACHINE Howard E. Peterson, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y.,. a corporation of. New Jersey Application January 13, 1942, Serial No. 425,629

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a semi-automatic vacuum closing machine and has particular reference to devices for supporting and centering a can cover relative to a can to be closed in such a machine.

In a semi-automatic vacuum closing machine, a can to be closed and a cover to be sealed onto the can are usually placed in a sealing chamber manually and a vacuum then is drawn on the chamber to exhaust the air from the can prior to sealing. After the can is vacuumized it is lifted vertically to pick up the cover and then both can and cover continue on up into a seaming mechanism. In such a machine it is important to have the cover located in correct vertical alignment with the can so that it will fit perfectly overthe can flange when the can is lifted. Otherwise a jam may occur with a resulting damage to the can or to the machine.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this difiiculty by providing a floating ring for supporting a can cover, the ring being self-aligning relative to the can so that the cover will always be brought into vertical alignment with the can at the proper time.

An object therefore of the invention is the provision in a vacuum closing machine of a support for a cover for a can to be closed Whereinthe support is of a floating nature and self-aligning with a can to be closed so that acover retained in the support will be in alignment with the can when the latter moves into engagement with the cover.

Another object is the provision of such a floating cover support which is attached to a door which closes the sealing chamber on the machine and such a support moves with the door so that it may be accessible for the manual insertion of a cover therein when the door is open.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a vacuum can closing machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken back and shown in section; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 22 in Fig. 1, and showing parts in a diiferent position.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the drawing illustrates an improved vacuum closing machine of the character disclosed'in United States Patent 2,113,591; issued April 12, 1938, to S. S. Jacobs on Vacuum closing machine. In such a machine filled sheet metal cans A are vacuumized and then are closed with covers B which are secured in place on the cans by the interfolding of flange parts to'produce a uniting seam such as the well known double seam.

The machine includes a can receiving and vacuum sealing chamber 2! which is partially enclosed by walls of a frame 22 which constitutes the main frame of the machine. The remainder of the sealing chamber is enclosed by a door 23 which is hingedly secured to the machine frame. The chamber is vacuumized in any suitable manner such as that disclosed in the above mentioned Jacobs patent.

Within the sealing chamber 2i there is located a usual lifter pad 25'and directly above the lifter pad, a seaming head 26 having the usual chuck 21 and seaming rollers 28. The lifter-pad is mounted on a vertical stem 3! which is carried in a hearing 32 formed in the main frame 22. The stem is movable vertically of its bearing by any suitable means operating in time withthe other moving parts of the machine. I

The seaming head '26 is mounted on a sleeve 3t which is journaled in a bearing 35 formed in the machine frame. The head is rotated by'difierential gears 36, 31 which are respectively mounted on the sleeve and on a shaft carried within the sleeve. These gears may be rotated in any suitable manner in time with the moving parts of the machine. I

A can A to be vacuumized and closed is placed manually upon the lifter pad 25, when the door 23is open. The can is located or centered in a predetermined position on the lifter pad by a locating ring 38 which is secured to the top of the pad, and by a cooperating seat 39 formed in a bracket 4| secured to a wall of the frame that encloses the chamber 2|. This seat is located near the upper edge of the can on the lifter pad.

A cover B to be secured to the can is placed manually within a horizontal floating ring or support 42 which is attached to the inside of the chamber door 23. The cover rests on a shouldered countersunk seat 4'! formed in the ring. The ring is loosely carried on a horizontal shelf 48 which is provided with a semi-circular locating ledge 49 which extends up and is engaged by a similar depending shoulder 5| on the ring.

The ring 42 is pressed yieldably against the locating ledge bya compression spring 52 which is interposed between a lug 53 on the ring and the inside surface of the door. Nearly one-half of the ring overhangs the shelf 48.

This cover support ring 42 resting on the shelf 48, moves with the door and thus when the door is opened the ring is accessible for the insertion of a cover B onto the ring seat 41. When the door is swung closed the innermost overhanging edge of the ring fits into a horizontal groove 55 in the can locating bracket M and this groove locates and holds the ring in vertical alignment with the can A on the lifter pad 25. The ring is maintained in this aligned position by the compression spring 52.

When the door 23 is in closed position it is locked by a handle 51 which is mounted on a pivot pin 58 secured in a. lug 59 on the machine frame. The handle is formed with a locking lug hold the latter closed.

With the door 23 locked and the can A and cover B in vertical alignment within the chamber 2|, the latter is vacuumized and the lifter pad 25 is raised vertically within the chamber. The rising cam moves up through the aligned ring support 42 and picks up the cover B and continues on up into the seaming head 26. The lifter pad forces the upper end of the can and its now superimposed cover B up against the chuck 21 of the seaming head while the seaming rollers 28 move in to seam the cover to the can in a known manner.

After this sealing operation, the lifter pad '25 descends to its original position and carries; the sealed can down with it through the support ring 42. The door 23 thereupon may be unlocked and opened for the removal of the sealed can from the seaming chamber 2| and for the introduction of a new can and cover to be united for sealing as hereinabove explained.

It is thought that the invention and many of ment comprising a door hingedly connected to said housing for sealing the chamber opening, a floating annular ring in said chamber for holding a can cover in spaced and vertical alignment with said can, said annular ring being movably mounted on and also movable bodily with said door to render said ring accessible for the manual insertion of a cover therein when the door is open, and means carried by said door for supporting said ring for movement relative thereto.

2. In a can closing machine, wherein a housing is provided for enclosing a can receiving chamber having an opening therein through which a can and a cover to be united are introduced into the chamber, and a lifter pad is located within said chamber for receiving a can to be closed, and means are provided on said pad for locating the can in a predetermined position, the improvement comprising a door on its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a can closing machine wherein a housing is provided for enclosing a can receiving said housing for sealing the chamber opening, a floating ring support mounted on and movable with said door so that a cover for the can may be readily inserted into the ring support when the door is open, and a bracket located within said chamber and having a seat therein for receiving and locating said ring support in vertical alignment with the located can on said lifter pad when the door on the housing is in closed position.

3. In a can closing machine, wherein a housing is provided for enclosing a chamber having an opening therein through which a can and a cover to be united are introduced into the chamher, and a lifter pad is located within said chamber for receiving a can to be closed, and means are provided on said pad for locating the can in a predetermined position, the improvement comprising a door on said housing for sealing'the chamber opening, a bracket located on the inside of said door and having a semi-circular stop ledge thereon, a floating ring support movably mounted on said door bracket over said step ledge and overhanging said bracket, said ring support having a countersunk seat for receiving a can cover when the door is in an open position, a compression spring interposed-between said door and said ring support for yieldably retaining the support in engagement with the bracket stop ledge, and a stationary locating bracket disposed within said chamber and hav-' ing a seat for locating a can to be closed and further having a semi-circular seat for receiving the overhanging portion of said ring support when the door is closed to locate the ring support and the can cover retained therein in vertical alignment with the located can on said lifter pad. I l.

HOWARD B. PETERSON I] 

